Memory card changer, method for reading or writing data in memory card changer

ABSTRACT

A memory card changer is disclosed. The memory card changer can include a connection unit, which interchanges the data with the host device, a slot unit, which attaches and detaches a plurality of memory cards and a processing unit, which controls the host device to recognize individual storage capacities of the memory cards individually or collectively, in which each of the plurality of memory cards have been inserted in the slot unit. The memory card changer of the present invention can use the plurality of memory cards having smaller storage capacities as memory of large capacity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a memory card changer, morespecifically to a memory card changer that can integratedly manage thestorage capacity of memory cards inserted into the memory card changer.

BACKGROUND ART

FIG. 1 shows a memory card reader in accordance with the related art.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional memory card reader includes auniversal serial bus (USB) input/output unit 111 that is to be connectedwith a host device 100 and memory card slots 112 to 114.

The USB input/output unit 111 is for interchanging data between the hostdevice 100 and a memory card having been inserted into a memory cardreader 110 by using a USB interface.

In the memory card slot 115 can be inserted a SD (secure digital)/MMC(multimedia card) 112, a MS (memory stick) 113 and a CF (compact flash)memory card 114.

The memory card reader 110 in accordance with the related art recognizeseach memory card inserted into the memory card slots 112 to 114 as anindependent mobile storage media. Therefore, the memory card reader 110in accordance with the related art has a limited use in which thestorage capacity of the memory cards is not integratedly used.

For instance, suppose that the host device 100 is to store contents dataof 1.5 gigabyte in a memory card inserted into the memory card reader110. Here, suppose the storage capacity of the SD 112 memory card is 1gigabyte, the storage capacity of the MS 113 is 0.5 gigabyte and thestorage capacity of the CF 114 is 0.5 gigabyte. Accordingly, theintegrated storage capacity of the three memory cards is a total of 2gigabyte that is greater than a combined total of 1.5 gigabyte of thecontents data.

However, the memory card reader 110 in accordance with the related artonly recognizes memory cards inserted in the memory card slots 112 to114 as independent removable disks. For that reason, the contents datacan be stored in the memory cards only if the contents data is dividedinto smaller data in terms of storage capacity in accordance with theindividual storage capacity of each memory card through such acompression program, etc.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Thus, in order to solve the problems described above, the presentinvention provides a memory card changer that integratedly manages eachstorage capacity of multiple memory cards inserted into the memory cardchanger.

The present invention also provides a memory card changer that allows ahost device to recognize a plurality of memory cards having smallerstorage capacities as a large storage capacity of memory.

The present invention also provides a memory card changer that cancalculate an integrated file allocation table (FAT) used for recognizingthe plurality of memory cards as a integrated memory card having a largestorage capacity by using individual file allocation tables (FAT) of theplurality of memory cards.

Other problems that the present invention solves will become moreapparent through the following embodiments described below.

Technical Solution

To achieve the foregoing objectives and resolve the problems of therelated art, an aspect of the present invention provides a memory cardchanger. The memory card changer being connected to a host device andreading data stored in a plurality of memory cards or storing data inthe plurality of memory cards, the memory card changer including aconnection unit, configured to interchange the data with the hostdevice; a slot unit, the plurality of memory cards being attachable tothe slot unit; and a processing unit, configured to allow the hostdevice to recognize each capacity of the plurality of memory cardsindividually or integratedly, each of the plurality of memory cardshaving been inserted into the slot unit.

Here, the memory card changer can further include a switch configured toselect one of an integrated mode and an independent mode, the integratedmode recognizing each storage capacity integratedly, the independentmode recognizing each storage capacity individually, where if theintegrated mode is selected, the processing unit can allow the hostdevice to recognize a storage capacity integrated from each of thestorage capacities of the plurality of memory cards

Here, if the integrated mode is selected and a write command is receivedfrom the host device, the processing unit can divide data received fromthe host device and transmit the divided data to each slot of the slotunit.

Here, the processing unit can transmit the data to an Nth slot of theslot unit. If a capacity occupied by the data that is being stored in anNth memory card (N being a pre-designated number) reaches apre-determined level, the Nth memory card being inserted into the Nthslot, storing the data can be stopped; Nth division information isgenerated and stored in the Nth memory card; and data next to last datathat has stored in the Nth memory card, is transmitted to an N+1th slotof the slot unit.

Here, the N can be designated in a descending order in accordance withthe storage capacity of the memory cards inserted in the slot unit.

If the integrated mode is selected and a command to read data isreceived from the host device, the processing unit can extract thedivision information from the memory cards, respectively having beeninserted into the slot unit and transmit the data stored in the memorycards to the connection unit by using the division information,

wherein the division information, stored in the memory card when thedata is divided and stored, includes information on how the data isdivided and stored in the memory cards.

The memory card changer can further include a conversion unit,configured to convert one of a first transfer method and a secondtransfer method to the other transfer method, the data being receivedfrom and transferred to the connection unit by using the first transfermethod, the data being received from and transferred to the slot byusing the second transfer method, and each of the transfer methodscorresponding to an interface type of the connection unit and the memorycards in the slot unit.

The memory card can be one of Compact Flash (CF), Smart Media (SM),MultiMediaCard (MMC), xD-Picture Card (xD), Memory Stick (MS), MemoryStick Duo (MS Duo), Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo), MagicGate (MG),Mini-Secure Digital (Mini SD), RS-MultiMediaCard (RS), Trans Flash(T-Flash), Memory Stick PRO true 4-bit (MS PRO) and Secure Digital (SD).

The connection unit can have one interface type of Universal Serial Bus(USB), Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), xD-Picture Card (xD)and Trans Flash (T-Flash).

Another aspect of the present invention provides a memory card changer.The memory card changer which is connected to a host device and readingdata stored in a plurality of memory cards or storing data in theplurality of memory cards, including a connection unit, configured tointerchange the data with the host device; a slot unit, the plurality ofmemory cards being attachable to the slot unit; and a processing unit,configured to allow the host device to recognize individual storagecapacities of the plurality of memory cards individually or integratedlyby using individual file allocation tables (FAT) of the plurality ofmemory cards, each of the plurality of memory cards having been insertedinto the slot unit.

The processing unit can calculate an integrated file allocation table(FAT) by using the individual file allocation tables (FAT) and allowsthe host device to recognize the memory cards as a memory card havingthe integrated file allocation table (FAT).

The memory card changer can further include a switch configured toselect one of an integrated mode and an independent mode, the integratedmode allowing the individual file allocation tables (FAT) to berecognized integratedly, the independent mode allowing the individualfile allocation tables (FAT) to be recognized individually, where if theintegrated mode is selected, the processing unit can allow the hostdevice to recognize the individual file allocation tables (FAT)integratedly.

If the integrated mode is selected and a write command is received fromthe host device, the processing unit can divide data received from thehost device and transmits the divided data to each slot of the slotunit, where the write command comprises FAT information related tomemory cards, the data being to be stored in the memory cards.

If the integrated mode is selected and a read command is received fromthe host device, the processing unit can read data from the memory cardsof the slot unit and transmits the data to the connection unit, wherethe read command comprises FAT information related to memory cards, thedata being read in the memory cards.

The switch can be mounted on each slot of the slot unit, and theprocessing unit can allow the switch to integratedly recognize theindividual file allocation tables (FAT) of the memory card inserted in aslot, the slot being selected to be in the integrated mode.

The memory card changer can further include a conversion unit configuredto convert one of a first transfer method and a second transfer methodto the other transfer method, the data being received from andtransferred to the connection unit by using the first transfer method,the data being received from and transferred to the slot by using thesecond transfer method, and each of the transfer methods correspondingto an interface type of the connection unit and the memory cards in theslot unit.

The memory card can be one of Compact Flash (CF), Smart Media (SM),MultiMediaCard (MMC), XD-Picture Card (XD), Memory Stick (MS), MemoryStick Duo (MS Duo), Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo), MagicGate (MG),Mini-Secure Digital (Mini SD), RS-MultiMediaCard (RS), Trans Flash(T-Flash), Memory Stick PRO true 4-bit (MS PRO) and Secure Digital (SD).

The connection unit can have one interface type of Universal Serial Bus(USB), Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC), XD-Picture Card (XD)and Trans Flash (T-Flash).

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a method ofstoring data of a memory card changer. The method of storing receiveddata in a plurality of memory cards inserted in a memory card changercan include (a) storing the data in an Nth memory card (N being apre-designated number); (b) stopping the storing the data and generatingNth division information and storing the Nth division information in theNth memory card, if a capacity occupied by the data that is being storedin the Nth memory card reaches a pre-determined capacity level of theNth memory card; and (c) storing data next to last data that has storedin the Nth memory card in an N+1th memory card, where the process (a) tothe process (c) are repeated until the storing the data is completed.

The process (a) and the process (c) can further include transferring thedata to the memory cards after the transfer method of transferring thedata is converted in accordance with types of each interface of thememory cards.

The N can be designated numbers in a descending order in accordance withthe storage capacity of the memory cards inserted in the slot unit.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method of storingdata of a memory card changer. The method of storing data received froma host device in a plurality of memory cards inserted in a memory cardchanger can include (a) extracting individual file allocation tables(FAT) of the memory cards; (b) calculating an integrated file allocationtable (FAT) configured to allow a host device to recognize each storagecapacity of the memory cards integrated by using the individual fileallocation tables (FAT); (c) transmitting the integrated file allocationtable (FAT) to the host device; and (d) storing the data into the memorycards, if the write command is received from the host device, where thewrite command can include FAT information related to memory cards, thedata being to be stored in the memory cards.

The process (d) can further include a transfer method of transferringthe data is converted in accordance with each interface of the memorycards and transmitting the data to the memory cards.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method of storingdata of a memory card changer. The method of reading data stored in aplurality of memory cards inserted in a memory card changer can includeextracting division information from each of the memory cards; andreading the data stored in the memory cards by using the divisioninformation, where the division information, stored in the memory cardwhen the data is divided and stored, includes information on how thedata is divided and stored in the memory cards.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method ofstoring data of a memory card changer. The method of reading data storedin a plurality of memory cards inserted into a memory card changer inaccordance with a read command received from a host device can includereading the data from the memory cards in accordance with a signal ofthe read command, where the read command can include FAT informationrelated to memory cards, the data being stored in the memory cards, andthe FAT information can be created by using an integrated fileallocation table (FAT) to recognize the plurality of memory cardsintegratedly, while the data is stored in the memory cards in advance.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention provides a memory card changer that integratedlythe manages of individual storage capacities of a plurality of memorycards inserted in the memory card changer.

The present invention also provides a memory card changer thatrecognizes a plurality of memory cards each having a small storagecapacity as a large storage capacity of memory.

The present invention also provides a memory card changer thatcalculates an integrated file allocation table (FAT) being recognized asa large storage capacity of memory by using individual file allocationtables (FAT) of a plurality of memory cards.

The present invention also provides a memory card changer that can storea large capacity of data by using a plurality of memory cards havingsmaller individual storage capacities.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a memory card reader in accordance with the related art.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a memory card changer in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer stores data inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer reads data inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer stores data inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a process of calculating an integrated file allocationtable (FAT) performed by a processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer reads data inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Since there can be a variety of permutations and embodiments of thepresent invention, certain embodiments will be illustrated and describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. This, however, is by nomeans to restrict the present invention to certain embodiments, andshall be construed as including all permutations, equivalents andsubstitutes covered by the spirit and scope of the present invention.Throughout the drawings, similar elements are given similar referencenumerals. Throughout the description of the present invention, whendescribing a certain technology is determined to evade the point of thepresent invention, the pertinent detailed description will be omitted.

Terms such as “first” and “second” can be used in describing variouselements, but the above elements shall not be restricted to the aboveterms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one element from theother.

The terms used in the description are intended to describe certainembodiments only, and shall by no means restrict the present invention.Unless clearly used otherwise, expressions in the singular numberinclude a plural meaning. In the present description, an expression suchas “comprising” or “consisting of” is intended to designate acharacteristic, a number, a process, an operation, an element, a unit orcombinations thereof, and shall not be construed to preclude anypresence or possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers,process, operations, elements, units or combinations thereof.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described below indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For betterunderstanding overall in describing aspects of the present invention,the same reference numerals are used for the same means, regardless ofthe figure number.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of a memory card changer in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

Here, in order to describe a memory card changer 200 in accordance withcertain embodiments of the present invention, a host device will beconsistently referred to as a host device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

Before a detailed description of the drawings, it is apparent that thedistinction of elements is only for distinguishing the main functions ofeach element. That is, at least two elements can be integrated as oneelement, or an element can be functionally divided into more than twoelements. Moreover, each element described below can perform not onlyits main functions, but also a part or the whole of functions of theother elements. Conversely, it is also possible that a part of the mainfunctions, pertained to each element, can be fully performed by theother elements. Therefore, the existence of each element, explained inthe description, can be functionally interpreted. For that reason, itshall be obvious that a configuration of the elements, in accordancewith the memory card changer 200 of the present invention, can differfrom one illustrated in FIG. 2, without departing from the spirit andtechnical scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention, a memory card changer 200 includes a connection unit 210,switches 220, a processing unit 230, a conversion unit 240 and a slotunit 250.

The connection unit 210 can interchange data between a host device 100and a memory card changer 200. The connection unit 210 can also have avariety of interfaces for interchanging the data in accordance withinterfaces supported by the host device 100.

For instance, the connection unit 210 can have one interface ofUniversal Serial Bus (USB), Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC),xD-Picture Card (xD) and Trans Flash (T-Flash).

Below, suppose that the connection unit interchanges the data betweenthe host device 100 and the memory card changer 200 by using a USBinterface. The same will apply hereinafter. However, this is notintended to limit the present invention, which is evident to those withordinary knowledge in the field of art to which the present inventionbelongs.

The slot unit 250 can have a plurality of slots to which a plurality ofmemory cards are attachable at the same time. For example, at least onetype of memory cards of Compact Flash (CF), Smart Media (SM),MultiMediaCard (MMC), XD-Picture Card (XD), Memory Stick (MS), MemoryStick Duo (MS Duo), Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo), MagicGate (MG),Mini-Secure Digital (Mini SD), RS-MultiMediaCard (RS), Trans Flash(T-Flash), Memory Stick PRO true 4-bit (MS PRO) and Secure Digital (SD)are attachable to the slot unit 250 in accordance with the presentinvention.

The conversion unit 240 can convert one of a first transfer method and asecond transfer method to the other transfer method, data being receivedfrom and/or transferred to the connection unit 210 by using the firsttransfer method, and also data being received from and/or transferred tothe slot unit 250 by using the second transfer method. For example, theconversion unit 240 can interchange the data with the host device 100through the first transfer method (e.g. the Universal Serial Bus (USB)interface), and the slot unit 250 can interchange the data with a memorycard through the second transfer method (e.g. a Secure Digital (SD)interface). Here, the conversion unit 240 can convert from the USBinterface to the SD interface to receive the data from the connectionunit 210 and transmit to the slot unit 250.

The Switch 220 can select one of an integrated mode or an independentmode, in which the integrated mode integratedly recognizes each storagecapacity of the memory cards inserted into the slot unit 250 and theindependent mode individually recognizes each of the storage capacities.The switch 220 can be mounted on each slot of the slot unit 250.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a processingunit 230 can separately transmit data received from the host device 100to each slot in order by a pre-determined method. This will be describedin more detail below as referring to FIG. 3.

The processing unit 230 can also transmit the data that is separatelystored in the memory cards inserted into each slot to the host device100 through the connection unit 210. This will be described in moredetail below as referring to FIG. 4.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, a processingunit 230 calculates an integrated file allocation table (FAT) by usingindividual file allocation tables (FAT) of the memory cards in order torecognize each storage capacity of a plurality of memory cards insertedinto the slot unit 250. Likewise, the processing unit 230 allows thehost device 100 to recognize the plurality of memory cards as a memorycard of large capacity by using the calculated integrated fileallocation table (FAT). This will be described in more detail below asreferring to FIG. 5.

The processing unit 230 can allow the host device 100 to read data fromthe plurality of memory cards by using the integrated file allocationtable (FAT) in response to a signal of a read command received from thehost device 100. This will be described in more detail below asreferring to FIG. 7.

Until now, the structure of the memory card changer 200 has beendescribed in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentinvention as referring to FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, a method ofstoring data in a plurality of memory cards performed by a memory cardchanger 200 in accordance with a first embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer 200 stores datain accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, suppose that if the memory card changer 200receives a store command from the switch 220 in process S310, the switch220 of the memory card changer 200 is set to be in the integrated mode,and the plurality of memory cards is inserted in the slot unit 250.

In process S320, the processing unit 230 can extract information relatedto each storage capacity of the memory cards inserted into the slot unit250. In process S330, the processing unit 230 can calculate anintegrated storage capacity by adding individual storage capacities andtransmit the integrated storage capacity to a host device 100. Here, thehost device 100 can recognize the plurality of memory cards as a singlememory card having the integrated storage capacity by using theinformation related to the integrated storage capacity in accordancewith the first embodiment of the present invention.

In process S340, the processing unit 230 can transmit the data receivedfrom the host device 100 to a pre-designated Nth slot. The processingunit 230, for example, can designate orderly numbers on the slots wherethe memory cards are inserted in a descending order of individualstorage capacities of the memory cards or designate orderly numbers onthe slots regardless of the individual storage capacities.

Before the processing unit 230 stores the data in the Nth slot (N beinga pre-designated number of pre-designated slot as a natural number), aconversion unit 240 can convert a transfer method of the data inaccordance with the interface of the Nth slot.

In process S350, the processing unit 230 can monitor whether or not acapacity occupied by the data that is being stored in an Nth memory cardreaches a pre-determined capacity level of the Nth memory card insertedin the N slot. If the data is stored enough, the processing unit canstop storing the data and process to next process S360.

In the process S360, the processing unit 230 can generate Nth divisioninformation and store it in the N memory card. Here, the Nth divisioninformation can be used for restoring the data. For example, the Nthdivision information can contain information related to how the data isdivided and which memory cards inserted into the slots the divided datais stored.

For example, the Nth division information can contain code informationrelated to a time when the storing the data is stopped. Here, it isevident to any person of ordinary skills in the art that the Nthdivision information can be modified and changed according to anenvironment to which the memory card changer 200 is applied.

In the process S360, the processing unit 230 proceeds to the processS340 by adding 1 to the Nth. That is, the processing unit 230 cantransmit data next to the last data have been stored in Nth slot to anN+1th slot that is a next designated slot after the Nth slot. Then, theprocessing unit 230 can proceed to the process S340 and the process S350for the N+1th slot.

Meanwhile, if the pre-determined storage capacity of the Nth memory cardis not fully occupied by the input data in the process S350, theprocessing unit 230 can determine that storing the data in the Nthmemory card inserted into the Nth slot is completed. As such, thestoring the data is stopped, and the processing unit 230 can generateand store division information that contains information that thestoring the data is completed, which is not illustrated in FIG. 3.

The first embodiment of the present invention described as referring toFIG. 3 will be described again with certain examples below.

Suppose that, in the process S310, the first to third memory cardshaving storage capacities of 1 giga byte, 1 giga byte and 0.5 giga byte,respectively, are inserted into the first to third slots, respectively.In the process S320, the processing unit 320 extracts individual storagecapacities. In the process S330, the processing unit 230 calculates anintegrated storage capacity as a total of 2.5 giga byte. After that, theprocessing unit 230 transmits information related the integrated storagecapacity to the host device 100, and the host device 100 recognizes thefirst to third memory cards as a single memory card of large capacityhaving the integrated storage capacity of 2.5 gigabyte.

Here, the process S340 and the process S360 will be described byassuming that each memory card is orderly numbered regardless ofindividual capacities of the memory cards, and data is stored up to 100%of the individual storage capacities of the memory cards.

If the memory card changer 200, which receives 1.7 gigabyte of data fromthe host device 100, stores the data in the memory cards, the processingunit 230 stores 1 giga bite of data in the first memory card andgenerates a first division information and then stores the firstdivision information in the first memory card. After that, theprocessing unit stores the data, i.e. remaining 0.7 giga byte of data,in the second memory card.

In this case, the processing unit 230 can use the remaining storagecapacity, i.e. 0.3 gigabyte, of the second memory card and the storagecapacity of the third memory card for a next use of storing data.

Described with reference to FIG. 2 is the switch 220, which is set to bein the integrated mode and mounted on each slot of the slot part. Here,the card changer 200 can distinguish each slot whether one is in theintegrated mode or another is in the independent mode.

For example, suppose that memory cards are inserted into the 1st to 10thslots. And, suppose that switches of the 1st to 7th slots are in theintegrated mode. Moreover, suppose that switches of the 8th to 10thslots are in the independent mode. Accordingly, the process S310 to 360in FIG. 3 can be applied to the memory cards inserted into the 1st to7th slots. That is, the host device 100 recognizes the memory cardsinserted into the 1st to 7th slots as a single large capacity memorycard, but recognizes the memory cards inserted into the 8th to 10thslots as individual memory cards.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, after theswitch 220 is in the integrated mode, the processing unit 230initializes the process of storing data described above if the memorycards inserted in the slot unit 250 are replaced, a new memory card isinserted, or the existing memory cards are removed.

When the 1^(st) to 3^(rd) memory cards are inserted into the 1st to 3rdslots, respectively, and the host device 100 recognizes the integratedmemory cards as a single large capacity memory card, a 4th memory card,for instance, can be inserted into the 4th memory slot. In this case,since the processing unit 230 senses that the forth memory card isinserted into the 4th memory slot, the processing unit 230 canre-perform the process S310 to S360 for the 1st to 4th memory cardswhich is in the integrated mode. Consequently, the host device 100recognizes the 1st to 4th memory cards as a single large capacity memorycard.

So far as referring to FIG. 3, the method of storing data performed bythe memory card changer 200 has been described according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, a method ofreading data from the memory card changer 200 in accordance with thefirst embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG.4 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer 200 reads data inaccordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, suppose that a switch 220 is set at an integratedmode, and one or more memory cards are inserted in at least one memoryslot.

Suppose that the 1st to 5th memory cards are inserted in the 1st to 5thmemory slots, respectively, and data is dividedly stored in the 1st to5th memory cards, and each data stored in the 1st to 5th memory cards iscalled the 1st to 5th division data respectively.

In process S420, the processing unit 230 extracts the 1st to 5thdivision information from the 1st to 5th memory cards and sorts an orderof the 1st to 5th division data by using the 1st to 5th divisioninformation. For instance, suppose that the original data is dividedlysuccessively stored in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th memory card. Inthis case, the processing unit 230 recognizes that the original data isdividedly successively stored in the 1st to 5th memory cards asmentioned above by using the 1st to 5th division information.

In the process S420, the processing unit 230 can successively transmiteach of the division data that have been stored in order of the 1st,2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th memory card to the host device 100 through theconnection unit 210. Here, the conversion unit 240 can convert themethod of transferring the data to the host device 100 in accordancewith an interface type of the connection unit 210.

For instance, in the process S420, the original data can be divided andsuccessively stored in order of the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 4th and 3rd memorycard. Here, the processing unit 230 can recognize that the original datawas divided and successively stored in order of the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 4thand 3rd memory card by the 1st to 5th division information. Accordingly,in process S430, the processing unit 230 can transmit the division data,which are successively stored in order of the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 4th and 3rdmemory card, to the host device 100 through the connection unit 210.

So far as referring to FIG. 4, the method of reading data in the memorycard changer 200 has been described according to the first embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a method ofstoring data in and reading data from the memory card by using anintegrated file allocation table (FAT) in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer 200 stores datain accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 6 shows a process of calculating an integrated file allocationtable (FAT) performed by a processing unit 230. Here, FIG. 5 is mainlydescribed but if needs, FIG. 6 will be described as well.

Referring to FIG. 5, suppose that when the memory card changer 200receives a write command from the host device 100, a switch 220 of thememory card changer 200 can be set to an integrated mode, and aplurality of memory cards is inserted into the slot unit 250.

In process S520, the processing unit 230 extracts individual fileallocation tables (FAT) of the memory cards inserted in the slot unit250. Then, in process S530, the processing unit 230 calculates anintegrated file allocation table (FAT) by using the individual fileallocation tables (FAT) and transmits these to the host device 100.

Referring to FIG. 6, the process S320 to S330 of FIG. 4 will bedescribed in more detail below.

For example, the slot unit 250 can include a Universal Serial Bus (USB)slot 451, a Secure Digital (SD) slot 542, a Memory Stick (MS) slot 453,and a Compact Flash (CF) slot 454. It is assumed that the first to forthmemory cards are inserted into each slot, and each FAT of the first toforth memory cards are set to be a FAT1 661, a FAT2 662, a FAT3 663 anda FAT4 664.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, theprocessing unit 230 can calculate the integrated FAT by reading the fileallocation tables (FAT) 661 to 664 of the first to forth memory cards.For example, the processing unit 230 can calculate the integrated FAT inwhich data is successively stored in a descending order of individualstorage capacities by using the individual capacity information of thefirst to forth memory cards. For another instance, the processing unit230 can create the integrated FAT for storing data in the memory cardhaving a fast data input/output speed in which the data input/outputspeed is already set in accordance with interfaces of the first to forthmemory cards. The processing unit 230 can transmit the calculatedintegrated FAT to the host device 100 through the connection unit 210.Therefore, the host device 100 can recognize the plurality of memorycards inserted into the memory card changer 200 as a single largecapacity memory card by using the received integrated FAT. Here, theintegrated storage capacity of the large memory card recognized by thehost device 100 can be the sum of individual storage capacities of thefirst to forth memory cards.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the process S540, the memory card changer 200can receive a signal of a data-write command from the host device 100.Then, the memory card changer 200 can divide and transmit the divideddata to the plurality of memory cards in response to the signal of thedata-write command. Here, the signal of the data-write command containsposition information related to where each data is to be stored in thememory cards. More specifically, the signal of the data-write commandcan contain information related to a memory card in which the data is tostored and position information related to which storage space of thememory card includes the data.

Therefore, the processing unit 230 can read information about the memorycards and a location where each data is to be stored in the memory cardsin accordance with the FAT information included in the signal of thewrite command, and can transmit the data to the location where the datais to be stored. Here, the conversion unit 240 can convert a transfermode of the data in accordance with an interface of each slot whiletransmitting the data to the location.

The second embodiment of the present invention as referring to FIG. 5and FIG. 6 will be described with particular examples below.

Suppose that in the process S510, the 1st through 4th memory cards,having individual storage capacities of 1 giga bite, 0.5 giga bite, 0.5giga bite and 0.3 giga bite respectively, are inserted in the 1stthrough 4th slots respectively. In the process S520, the processing unit320 calculates individual file allocation tables (FAT). And in theprocess S530, the processing unit calculates an integrated fileallocation table (FAT) by using the individual file allocation tables(FAT) and transmits the integrated FAT to the host device 100.Therefore, the host device 100 can recognize the 1st through 4th memorycards as a single memory card of large capacity having the integratedstorage capacity of 2.3 giga bite. Likewise, in the process S540, inresponse to FAT information being included in a signal of the writecommand transmitted from the host device 100 to the card changer 220,the card changer 220 can divide and store the received data in the 1stthrough 4th memory cards.

Meanwhile, if the 1st through 3rd memory cards are set at the integratedmode and the 4th memory card is set at the independent mode, the hostdevice 100 can recognize the 1st to 3rd memory cards as a single largecapacity memory card and the 4th memory card as another single memorycard.

So far as referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the method of storing data inthe memory card changer 200 has been described according to the secondembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the method of reading data in the memory cardchanger in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing how a memory card changer 200 reads datain accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, suppose that in process S710, a switch 220 is setat the integrated mode, and a plurality of memory cards is inserted inthe slot unit 250.

Furthermore, in process S720, the processing unit 230 can receive asignal of a read command from the host device 100 through the connectionunit 210. In this case, in process S730, the processing unit 230 canread data from the plurality of memory cards in response to the signalof the read command and transmit the data to the host device 110. Here,the signal of the read command contains FAT information about where eachdata is stored in the memory cards.

Here, the FAT information, as referring to FIG. 5, is created from thehost device 100 by using the integrated FAT which is used forrecognizing the plurality of memory cards collectively. Morespecifically, the host device 100 recognizes the plurality of memorycards as a single memory card of large capacity through the integratedFAT. Likewise, the data to be stored and empty space information aboutthe amount of space available on the total storage space for storingdata, can be transmitted to the data changer 200 after reading the emptyspace information. Here, the empty space information can be indicated byusing the FAT information. Referring to FIG. 7, the method of readingdata in the memory card changer according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention has been described.

While the spirit of the present invention has been described in detailwith reference to certain embodiments, the embodiments are forillustrative purposes only and do not limit the present invention.Therefore, those with ordinary skill in the art will understand thatmany variations and other embodiments may be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1. A memory card changer being connected to a host device and readingdata stored in a plurality of memory cards or storing data in theplurality of memory cards, the memory card changer comprising: aconnection unit, configured to interchange the data with the hostdevice; a slot unit, the plurality of memory cards being attachable tothe slot unit; and a processing unit, configured to allow the hostdevice to recognize each capacity of the plurality of memory cardsindividually or integratedly, each of the plurality of memory cardshaving been inserted into the slot unit.
 2. The memory card changer ofclaim 1, further comprising a switch configured to select one of anintegrated mode and an independent mode, the integrated mode recognizingeach storage capacity integratedly, the independent mode recognizingeach storage capacity individually, wherein if the integrated mode isselected, the processing unit allows the host device to recognize astorage capacity integrated from each of the storage capacities of theplurality of memory cards.
 3. The memory card changer of claim 2,wherein, if the integrated mode is selected and a write command isreceived from the host device, the processing unit divides data receivedfrom the host device and transmits the divided data to each slot of theslot unit.
 4. The memory card changer of claim 3, wherein the processingunit transmits the data to an Nth slot of the slot unit, whereas, if acapacity occupied by the data that is being stored in an Nth memory card(N being a pre-designated number) reaches a pre-determined level, theNth memory card being inserted into the Nth slot, storing the data isstopped; Nth division information is generated and stored in the Nthmemory card; and data next to last data that has stored in the Nthmemory card, is transmitted to an N+1th slot of the slot unit.
 5. Thememory card changer of claim 4, wherein the N is designated in adescending order in accordance with the storage capacity of the memorycards inserted in the slot unit.
 6. The memory card changer of claim 2,wherein, if the integrated mode is selected and a command to read datais received from the host device, the processing unit extracts thedivision information from the memory cards, respectively having beeninserted into the slot unit and transmits the data stored in the memorycards to the connection unit by using the division information, whereinthe division information, stored in the memory card when the data isdivided and stored, includes information on how the data is divided andstored in the memory cards.
 7. The memory card changer according to anyone of claims 1, further comprising a conversion unit, configured toconvert one of a first transfer method and a second transfer method tothe other transfer method, the data being received from and transferredto the connection unit by using the first transfer method, the databeing received from and transferred to the slot by using the secondtransfer method, and each of the transfer methods corresponding to aninterface type of the connection unit and the memory cards in the slotunit.
 8. The memory card changer of claim 1, wherein the memory card isone of Compact Flash (CF), Smart Media (SM), MultiMediaCard (MMC),xD-Picture Card (xD), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick Duo (MS Duo),Memory Stick Pro Duo (MS Pro Duo), MagicGate (MG), Mini-Secure Digital(Mini SD), RS-MultiMediaCard (RS), Trans Flash (T-Flash), Memory StickPRO true 4-bit (MS PRO) and Secure Digital (SD).
 9. The memory cardchanger of claim 1, wherein the connection unit has one interface typeof Universal Serial Bus (USB), Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard(MMC), xD-Picture Card (xD) and Trans Flash (T-Flash).
 10. A memory cardchanger being connected to a host device and reading data stored in aplurality of memory cards or storing data in the plurality of memorycards, the memory card changer comprising: a connection unit, configuredto interchange the data with the host device; a slot unit, the pluralityof memory cards being attachable to the slot unit; and a processingunit, configured to allow the host device to recognize individualstorage capacities of the plurality of memory cards individually orintegratedly by using individual file allocation tables (FAT) of theplurality of memory cards, each of the plurality of memory cards havingbeen inserted into the slot unit.
 11. The memory card changer of claim10, wherein the processing unit calculates an integrated file allocationtable (FAT) by using the individual file allocation tables (FAT) andallows the host device to recognize the memory cards as a memory cardhaving the integrated file allocation table (FAT).
 12. The memory cardchanger of claim 10, further comprising a switch configured to selectone of an integrated mode and an independent mode, the integrated modeallowing the individual file allocation tables (FAT) to be recognizedintegratedly, the independent mode allowing the individual fileallocation tables (FAT) to be recognized individually, wherein if theintegrated mode is selected, the processing unit allows the host deviceto recognize the individual file allocation tables (FAT) integratedly.13. The memory card changer of claim 12, wherein, if the integrated modeis selected and a write command is received from the host device, theprocessing unit divides data received from the host device and transmitsthe divided data to each slot of the slot unit, whereas the writecommand comprises FAT information related to memory cards, the databeing to be stored in the memory cards.
 14. The memory card changer ofclaim 12, wherein, if the integrated mode is selected and a read commandis received from the host device, the processing unit reads data fromthe memory cards of the slot unit and transmits the data to theconnection unit, whereas the read command comprises FAT informationrelated to memory cards, the data being read in the memory cards. 15.The memory card changer of claim 12, wherein the switch is mounted oneach slot of the slot unit, and the processing unit allows the switch tointegratedly recognize the individual file allocation tables (FAT) ofthe memory card inserted in a slot, the slot being selected to be in theintegrated mode.
 16. The memory card changer according to any one ofclaims 10, further comprising: a conversion unit configured to convertone of a first transfer method and a second transfer method to the othertransfer method, the data being received from and transferred to theconnection unit by using the first transfer method, the data beingreceived from and transferred to the slot by using the second transfermethod, and each of the transfer methods corresponding to an interfacetype of the connection unit and the memory cards in the slot unit. 17.The memory card changer of claim 10, wherein the memory card is one ofCompact Flash (CF), Smart Media (SM), MultiMediaCard (MMC), XD-PictureCard (XD), Memory Stick (MS), Memory Stick Duo (MS Duo), Memory StickPro Duo (MS Pro Duo), MagicGate (MG), Mini-Secure Digital (Mini SD),RS-MultiMediaCard (RS), Trans Flash (T-Flash), Memory Stick PRO true4-bit (MS PRO) and Secure Digital (SD).
 18. The memory card changer ofclaim 10, wherein the connection unit has one interface type ofUniversal Serial Bus (USB), Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC),XD-Picture Card (XD) and Trans Flash (T-Flash).
 19. A method of storingreceived data in a plurality of memory cards inserted in a memory cardchanger, the method comprising: (a) storing the data in an Nth memorycard (N being a pre-designated number); (b) stopping the storing thedata and generating Nth division information and storing the Nthdivision information in the Nth memory card, if a capacity occupied bythe data that is being stored in the Nth memory card reaches apre-determined capacity level of the Nth memory card; and (c) storingdata next to last data that has stored in the Nth memory card in an N+1th memory card, whereas the process (a) to the process (c) are repeateduntil the storing the data is completed.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the process (a) and the process (c) further comprisetransferring the data to the memory cards after the transfer method oftransferring the data is converted in accordance with types of eachinterface of the memory cards.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the Nis designated numbers in a descending order in accordance with thestorage capacity of the memory cards inserted in the slot unit.
 22. Amethod of storing data received from a host device in a plurality ofmemory cards inserted in a memory card changer, the method comprising:(a) extracting individual file allocation tables (FAT) of the memorycards; (b) calculating an integrated file allocation table (FAT)configured to allow a host device to recognize each storage capacity ofthe memory cards integrated by using the individual file allocationtables (FAT); (c) transmitting the integrated file allocation table(FAT) to the host device; and (d) storing the data into the memorycards, if the write command is received from the host device, whereinthe write command comprises FAT information related to memory cards, thedata being to be stored in the memory cards.
 23. The method of claim 22,wherein the process (d) further comprises: a transfer method oftransferring the data is converted in accordance with each interface ofthe memory cards and transmitting the data to the memory cards.
 24. Amethod of reading data stored in a plurality of memory cards inserted ina memory card changer, the method comprising: extracting divisioninformation from each of the memory cards; and reading the data storedin the memory cards by using the division information, wherein thedivision information, stored in the memory card when the data is dividedand stored, includes information on how the data is divided and storedin the memory cards.
 25. A method of reading data stored in a pluralityof memory cards inserted into a memory card changer in accordance with aread command received from a host device, the method comprising: readingthe data from the memory cards in accordance with a signal of the readcommand, wherein the read command comprises FAT information related tomemory cards, the data being stored in the memory cards, and the FATinformation is created by using an integrated file allocation table(FAT) to recognize the plurality of memory cards integratedly, while thedata is stored in the memory cards in advance.